Goodrich Travel Blog

Edinburgh: Body Snatchers

Goodrich Travel — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:28:02 +0000

Edinburgh: Body Snatchers
By: Globus
Below Edinburgh’s Calton Hill you can see Old Calton Graveyard featuring a stone watchtower that dates back to the 17th century. It was from that tower that Irish grave robbers William Burke and William Hare watched for funerals. Upon a funeral’s end, they took out their spades and dug up bodies to supply the Royal College of Surgeons with fresh cadavers for research. The inspiration? Money and a fateful meeting with Dr. Robert Knox in a pub. During this chance encounter, Knox complained that he could get only one body a year from authorities, only one pair of lungs and one heart to do his research. The lads, Burke and Hare, told their newfound friend they might be able to get him more bodies to assist with his research. Soon they were regularly delivering cadavers.

As time went by, there were fewer funerals in the city, so the grave robbers became murderers, killing people to stay in business. Another doctor noticed that the bodies seemed too fresh and notified the authorities … the body snatchers-turned-murderers were discovered. Burke’s sentence was death and then fittingly, dissection at the Royal College of Surgeons. If you go there now, you can see a nice journal on display that looks leather bound … The “leather” is, in fact, Burke’s skin. When you book a vacation with Globus, you’re not just seeing the world, you’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most interesting places. Discover the stories of Scotland with Globus and Goodrich Travel today.

Travel Like a Movie Star!

Goodrich Travel — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:46:53 +0000

How to Travel like a Movie Star

By: Silversea
Do you breeze through airports with the grace and style of a star like Marion Cotillard (whose films include the runaway hit movie Midnight in Paris)? How do globetrotting celebrities always manage to look so carefree and fashionable when going through the same airport hurdles and delays endured by the rest of us? Well, let’s face it, they probably have an entourage to keep them looking crisp and fabulous!

But there is a simple step you can take to make your travels smoother. Smart luxury travellers of the 21st-century are embracing the art of journeying sans baggage. If you’re still lugging your suitcases across continents, let this be your wake-up call!

Silver Shore Baggage Valet

Enhance your Silversea holiday by sending your luggage ahead of you. Our Silver Shore Baggage Valet service conveniently begins and ends at your front door, allowing your luggage to travel to the ship and back home again from many ports.

Your luggage can be picked up from your home or office and travel to many worldwide destinations, enabling you to travel with ease. Considering current airport security and baggage restrictions, Silver Shore Baggage Valet provides peace of mind before and after your journey.

For your convenience, we offer roundtrip and one-way service options. Pricing is based on the weight and number of pieces to be shipped. For most international embark ports, we require the luggage be picked up 10 to 14 business days prior to your sail date. Each piece of luggage is insured up to a maximum of US$2,000.

Thirty-day advance notice prior to sail date is recommended for this service.

Interested in learning more about Silversea Cruises? Go to our Cruise Tab and click on the Silversea link.

Top 5 Wine Tours

Goodrich Travel — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:35:17 +0000

Cheers to Wine Tours: A Top 5 List

By: Collette
Do you have a glass of red wine with dinner because you heard it promotes good health? Or maybe you just like the taste of a smooth merlot?

Whatever the reason, travelers today continue to search out tours that include a wine component in the itinerary. There are many places to learn about wine making and its subtle tasting nuances. Italy comes to mind – which is why all of our Italy tours include wine with every meal and a winery visit is included on most Italy programs. Wine tours are on the rise – and in more places than just Italy. Some of Collette’s food and wine tours include:

Spectacular South Africa— Discover the Cape Winelands region with its mountainous landscape and endless vineyards.
Explorations California’s Wine Country— Napa Valley should be on everyone’s bucket list.
The Wonders of South America— Argentina is the land of sol y vino – sun and wine – and Mendoza, set at the base of the Andes Mountains is breathtaking.
Exploring New Zealand— Marlborough region considered one of the world’s best wine regions.
Reflections of Italy — the tour stops at a historic winery in the heart of the Chianti region complete with its very own 12th century castle.

Ah, Paris!

Goodrich Travel — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:49:10 +0000

Left Bank: The Ultimate Cafe Society

By: Globus
As you stroll down the exhilarating Boulevard Saint Germain on the Left Bank, make sure to pay your respects to the three sacred “temples” of Parisian café society near the church of Saint-German-des-Près: the Café des Deux Magots, the Café de Flor (next door) and the Brasserie Lipp (across the road). In the 1930s, this trio of charismatic establishments became the bohemian crossroads of Europe, when successful artists like Picasso, André Breton, Salvador Dali and Marcel Duchamp descended on them, bringing an entourage of writers, celebrities and fashionistas in their wake.

Under German occupation, the intellectual power couple Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir set up shop in the Flore, having been driven out of their old haunts by Nazi officers on r-and-r. Since the couple was living in a cheap hotel at the time, they preferred to spend all day in the café. Sartre later recorded their rigid daily working routine – writing from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.; lunch until 2 p.m.; chatting with friends until 4 p.m.; more writing until 8 p.m.; dinner until 10 p.m.; then late night business meetings in the cafe. “It may seem strange, all this,” Sartre wrote, “but the Flore was like home to us…even when the air-raid alarm sounded, we would merely pretend to leave and then climb up to the first floor and go on working…”

Today, these famous cafes are still great places to do a little philosophizing as you watch the world go by. At the Deux Magots, guests don’t sit at tables so much as antique wooden writing desks, and the menu suggests that this is the “rendez-vous of the intellectual elite.” The small square in front is now called the Place Sartres-Beauvoir, in honor of the passionate couple. Great storytellers don’t use scripts. They use itineraries. Follow your Globus itinerary to experience France’s history and stories today! Contact Goodrich Travel to get started.

Goodrich Travel — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:09:57 +0000

Canadian Rockies and the 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede

By: Suzanne Slavitter CTP and Sports Empire
Next July our family will be spending a week in the beautiful Canadian Rockies and enjoy the festivities celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede. Alberta welcomes you to celebrate a century of some of the most original down-home fun to be found anywhere. What’s the centennial edition of The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth have to offer? Imagine the largest state fair you can think of, add top-flight performers, exhibitions from across the country, stir it all together and there you have it—the world-famous Calgary Stampede! This 10 day annual event features the thrill of the carnival midway, the excitement of world-class rodeo and nightly chuckwagon races combine for family-friendly entertainment to thrill the young and the young at heart.

Sports Empire is combining the excitement of the Calgary Stampede with a leisurely tour of the Canadian Rockies. Guests will have a free day in each location to choose from their own activities while Sports Empire hosts the group from one beautiful location to the next. Ask Goodrich Travel about this exciting once in a lifetime tour July 7 -15, 2012 to Alberta Canada – a province known for Big City Excitement, the Canadian Rockies and Wild West Adventure!

Goodrich Travel — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:41:52 +0000

5 Unique Pools in Hawaii

Looking to visit Hawaii? Of course there is always beautiful weather and perfect beaches, but a question you have to ask yourself is where should I stay? Here are some great hotel pools in Hawaii to help ease your decision.
Sheraton Waikiki – Waikiki, Hawaii
		The beautiful pool area of the Sheraton Waikiki is made up of two main sections the Helumoa Playground and the Edge of Waiakiki. The Helumoa Playground is a relaxing spot for the whole family to enjoy. The main areas of the Playground are the two freshwater swimming pools where everyone can have fun and the two large whirlpools with magnificent sweeping views of the beach. If you are looking for a place for the kids to have fun, there is an interactive fountain area for them to play in. While the Playground is fun for all, the Edge of Waikiki is an infinity pool which is open to guests of ages 16 and older. It provides breathtaking views of what seems to be an endless stretch of the Waikiki beach. These two brilliant locations make up the spectacular pool area of the Sheraton Waikiki.
The St. Regis Princeville Resort – Princeville, Hawaii
		The St. Regis Princeville Resort offers one of the most breathtaking outdoor infinity pools stretching approximately 5,000 square feet overlooking the magnificent Hanalei Bay. The pool is edged with lava rock which adds to the beauty of the seemingly endless pool. If you do not feel like this is exactly what you are looking for there are adjacent whirlpools to take in the great bay and mountain views. The pool offers an oceanfront bar and poolside dining with its signature cocktails and perfect views of the bay and the Makana Mountain.
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa - Lahaina, Maui
		If you are looking for a hotel pool with all the credentials, then look no further than the Westin Maui Resort & Spa. This pool was voted the best pool on Maui and the second best pool in North America by Trip Advisor Readers. This 87,000 square foot pool area has virtually everything you could ask for. It contains five swimming pools, two waterslides, a swim through grotto with twin waterfalls, and even a hidden whirlpool. It does not stop at simply what the water has to offer but it also has amazing exotic wildlife and art collections scattered among the pool area.
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
		If you are looking for a cool, fun, and different experience from most pools, the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa is the perfect place to go. The entire pool area includes inner, outer, and children’s pools along with two whirlpool spas which are tucked under lava rock outcroppings. The children’s pool has a shallow water beach area bordered by a playful and fun fountain area. This is a pool for all ages and if the pool is not what you are looking for then you can relax and sit poolside with some drinks from the Manta Ray Bar and Grill. However, the part of this pool which sets it apart from all of the others is that the upper and lower pools are connected by a river system which leads to a 200 foot long lava tube water slide.
The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort – Waikiki, Hawaii
		The Royal Hawaiian shares a few of its features with the Sheraton Waikiki such as its Helumoa Keiki Pool and its Heluma Playground. The pool has a children’s pool and also offers waterways, slides, and two ocean front Jacuzzis. The Heluma Playground offers two freshwater swimming pools and two large whirlpools with breathtaking views of the beach and a fountain area for the children. The pool that differentiates it from the Sheraton is the Royal Beach Tower Pool. It offers a quiet oasis which fronts the beautiful Waikiki Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Allow yourself to relax in the lounge chairs on the stone pool deck or in one of the cabanas and allow the attendants to take care of every need you have.

Goodrich Travel — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:12:56 +0000

60 Second Geography – Palm Springs California

The main drag through Palm Springs is North Palm Canyon Drive. Shopping the antique and specialty shops along this route is a popular pastime. Every Thursday the road is closed to vehicles, and local merchants fill the streets with goods and fresh produce, such as the plump dates that grow especially well in the valley. Sunbathing on one of the 355 days of annual sunshine is another popular pastime, and at night, the streets come to life with dance clubs, stage shows, and concerts. Palm Springs is located in south central California along I-10, about two hours from Los Angeles or San Diego.

Six must-do tasks for any visitor to Palm Springs.

Take the Tram.A “must see” while visiting Palm Springs, you’ll be taken on a genuine Swiss tram car to the top of Mount San Jacinto – 8,516 feet above the valley. There you are transported to the threshold of the 13,000 acre Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness State Park, with 54 miles of biking trails, cross country skiing, and magnificent views of Coachella Valley below.
Visit Villagefest.Every Thursday evening from 6-10 PM glamorous downtown Palm Springs is transformed into a vibrant old fashion street fair, complete with musicians, local arts and crafts, food, and a farmer’s market. Villagefest is located between Baristo and Amado Roads on Palm Canyon Drive.
See The City.Learn of the rich history of the area, view the city’s distinctive architecture and see how the rich and famous live, including 30-40 homes of famous Hollywood stars. Palm Springs also has miles of well marked and maintained biking trails. For the more adventurous there is also horseback riding and ballooning, a spectacular way to see the valley.
See The Natural Splendor.Some of Southern California’s most breathtaking scenery can be found in the Palm Springs area. Joshua Tree National Park offers 870 square miles of splendid wonder, including hiking, rock climbing, picnicking and more. The Indian Canyons are 3 magnificent canyons 5 miles south of the town center on South Palm Canyon Road with amazing plant life and lush vegetation among rock formations and waterfalls. The Living Desert is an incredible 1,200 acre reserve combining the delights of a zoo, botanical garden, and scenic wilderness in one facility. And the Moorten Botanical Gardens feature over 3000 varieties of cacti and desert plants from all over the world.
See The Arts.Palm Springs has always been associated with the arts. Here are a few of the area’s top venues. The world famous Palm Springs Desert Museum offers an excellent permanent collection of Western and Native American art, as well as fine traveling collections. The McCallum Theater features top rated entertainment in all areas of the performing arts. The Annenberg Theater is a wonderfully intimate theater presenting top rated theater, dance, and musical entertainment. And among the top art galleries in the area are: B. Lewin Galleries, Coda Galleries, Heusso Gallery, and The Art Place.
Enjoy World Class Golf And Tennis. Whether you golf for fun or serious sport, Palm Springs has a course for you. The area boasts over 90 different golf courses, many designed by international legends such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Some of the best courses open to the public include: Mesquite Country Club, Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, Westin Mission Hills, Palm Desert Country Club, and The Woodhaven Country Club. Excellent tennis is also available at many of the golf and tennis resorts located throughout the valley, and free court time can be found at Demuth Park, Palm Springs High School and Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs.

Contact Goodrich Travel and experience Palm Springs for yourself.

Why Oxford is Called the City of Dreaming Spires?

Goodrich Travel — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:53:33 +0000

Provided by: Globus Tours

Oxford has long-served as an inspiring landscape to writers, artists and dreamers. In his poem, “Thyrsis,” written to commemorate his friend, Arthur Hugh Clough, who died in 1861, Matthew Arnold famously captured Oxford in the view from Hinksey Hill with the evocative expression, “that sweet city with her dreaming spires,” describing the elegance of the famous university buildings. Today, the view from Hinksey Hill is less dreamy, despite the greensward foreground of “Matthew Arnold’s Field,” which was purchased by the Oxford Preservation Trust in 1928. Now, those spires are best appreciated from atop St. Mary’s or Carfax Towers in town. Other literary treats lie in Oxford’s Christ Church College, where Charles Dodgson (a.k.a. Lewis Carroll) was a mathematics tutor from 1855 to 1898. He created his stories Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass to entertain the daughters of Dean Henry Liddell. Much of his inspiration came from Christ Church, including the long-necked “firedogs” that hold the logs in the fireplace (Alice’s neck stretched long), the narrow spiral staircase down which the Dean would disappear after meals (down the rabbit hole) and the mulberry tree outside the library where a cat would perch (the Cheshire Cat). Today, a stained glass window in the Hall depicts scenes and characters from the stories. And, of course the Hall was used in the Harry Potter movies as the dining hall at Hogwarts. For the less lofty, a stained glass window in Christ Church Cathedral tells the story of St. Frideswide, Oxford’s patron saint, with her deathbed panel bowing to modern convention. The window was made in 1858 – a year after the aptly named Thomas Crapper invented the flush toilet. Thus, a flush toilet sits clearly in the background of the final dramatic panel of this famous stained window. Destinations aren’t just places on a map. They’re the backdrop for some of the most fascinating stories in history. What story might you discover next with Globus and Goodrich Travel? By: Globus Oxford has long-served as an inspiring landscape to writers, artists and dreamers. In his poem, “Thyrsis,” written to commemorate his friend, Arthur Hugh Clough, who died in 1861, Matthew Arnold famously captured Oxford in the view from Hinksey Hill with the evocative expression, “that sweet city with her dreaming spires,” describing the elegance of the famous university buildings. Today, the view from Hinksey Hill is less dreamy, despite the greensward foreground of “Matthew Arnold’s Field,” which was purchased by the Oxford Preservation Trust in 1928. Now, those spires are best appreciated from atop St. Mary’s or Carfax Towers in town. Other literary treats lie in Oxford’s Christ Church College, where Charles Dodgson (a.k.a. Lewis Carroll) was a mathematics tutor from 1855 to 1898. He created his stories Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass to entertain the daughters of Dean Henry Liddell. Much of his inspiration came from Christ Church, including the long-necked “firedogs” that hold the logs in the fireplace (Alice’s neck stretched long), the narrow spiral staircase down which the Dean would disappear after meals (down the rabbit hole) and the mulberry tree outside the library where a cat would perch (the Cheshire Cat). Today, a stained glass window in the Hall depicts scenes and characters from the stories. And, of course the Hall was used in the Harry Potter movies as the dining hall at Hogwarts. For the less lofty, a stained glass window in Christ Church Cathedral tells the story of St. Frideswide, Oxford’s patron saint, with her deathbed panel bowing to modern convention. The window was made in 1858 – a year after the aptly named Thomas Crapper invented the flush toilet. Thus, a flush toilet sits clearly in the background of the final dramatic panel of this famous stained window. Destinations aren’t just places on a map. They’re the backdrop for some of the most fascinating stories in history. What story might you discover next with Globus and Goodrich Travel?

Our vacation to Venice, Croatia and Montenegro

Goodrich Travel — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:38:42 +0000

Click to view slideshow. In June we travelled to Venice. We spent three days West of Venice in Verona and Lake Garda. The scenery was spectacular and the wine even better (Amarone). We stayed in the lovely town of Verona in the Guilietta Hotel which shares a small square with the famous house and balcony of Juliet (ie: Romeo and Juliet).
We then traveled by train with another couple to Venice and transferred via boat to our hotel, Ca’Segredo. What a lovely hotel right on the Grand Canal. Venice is a one-of-a-kind place to visit. Getting around is easy, either walk or take the water taxi’s. Private water taxi or gondola are other options, though spendy. The rest of our group, 12 total, joined us in Venice. We did go out to Murano Island and visit a lovely glass factory – quite a site. After several days and some great meals, we got on the new L’Austral ship, Compagnie du Ponant cruise line. It holds around 200 passengers and we headed out of Venice for stops in Croatia and Montenegro.

We sailed along the Dalmatian Coast to Split where we took a ferry to the island of Solta where one of our group was raised. We visited his family home where his lovely sister stills resides. What a great experience. Next we sailed to Korcula, an ancient city in a very strategic location along the coast. It very clean and quite beautiful, as was all of Croatia and Montenegro. The water of the Adriatic is so blue and the coastline just gorgeous!

The next port was Kotar, Montenegro – wow, set back in a fjiord like setting it was spectacular. We toured the historic old town then took a trip over the top of the mountains Budva which is another gorgeous resort area. We stopped for lunch at a wonderful restaurant on the beach and then returned to the ship. Great day!
On to the famous city of Dubrovnik. Again, spectacular with so much history and what great fortifications. We took another tour, ending up on top of the mountain for a great photo shoot of Dubrovnik and then another wonderful local lunch.
On to the lovely island town of Hvar where it was so clean and people so friendly you did not want to leave, but we still had a few more stops on the schedule. We stopped at Pula with its huge and still used colliseum. After a walk around the town, we sailed to Rovinj. This was a wonderful town with a huge church on top the town hill. We took a long walk and again found it very clean and the people very friendly.
It was a wonderful trip that I recommend to everyone who appreciates gorgeous scenery, clean and natural surroundings and wonderful people.

Visit Lovely Switzerland This Year

Goodrich Travel — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:41:36 +0000

Come Discover Switzerland’s intellectual History with Globus

By: Globus

Despite Harry Lime’s assertion in Graham Greene’s “The Third Man” that Switzerland’s contribution to world culture is the cuckoo clock, there is a long tradition of artistic achievement in this tiny country of six million. In fact it is a country that so loves their artists that their profiles grace Swiss Francs rather than those of politicians. Many creative souls have produced some of their greatest masterpieces here and thrived on one of the world’s most beautiful and inspiring canvases.

T.S. Eliot wrote “The Wasteland” while living in Lausanne. Herman Hesse lived in the hills above Lugano for over 25 years. Other notable residents included James Joyce, Thomas Mann, Henry James, Voltaire, Dickens, Stravinsky, Vladimir Nabokov and Charlie Chaplin. Peter Ustinov lived in a hotel in Montreux and currently singers Tina Turner, Shania Twain, and Phil Collins call Switzerland home. It is a country with over 400 museums. In Zurich Kronenhalle restaurant was a famous haunt of expatriate writers and artists and the walls are full of work traded for meals. James Joyce regularly got the corner table and Giacometti, Chagall, Picasso and Miro are among the artists represented on the walls. In 2005 the Paul Klee Center opened in Bern to celebrate the work of the country’s greatest home-grown artist.

The cities of Vevey, Montreux and Lavaux, which lie next to each other along the banks of Lake Geneva, have published “The Poet’s Ramble,” a guide to famous artists who have lived in the area. Over 40 of the world’s greatest thinkers, artists and writers were inspired by the beauty of this land including Dostoyevsky, Rousseau, Hugo and Hemingway. The book is available through Switzerland Tourism.

We design our journeys around the stories they will tell. What story will you discover next with Globus and Goodrich Travel?